ASF continues to spread in Russia

Two new outbreaks of the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus have recently been identified in the Tver region among wild boars.

The first outbreak has been reported by the veterinary services in the hunting area Zavidovo.

"On 19 November at one of the feeding grounds of the hunting area Zavidovo, four dead wild boars were discovered. Samples of pathological material were taken for research on the presence of African Swine Fever. The area where dead boars were found has been disinfected, while where carcasses destroyed," according to in the official message of the Department of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) on Tver and Pskov regions.

ASF was found in samples of the genetic material. Also on 29 November specialists of Tver Interregional Veterinary Laboratory reported another ASF outbreak in Kesovogorsky area.

“Yesterday, research of pathological material was delivered taken from the seven wild boars shot in the hunting area Quantum in the Kesovogorsky area. As a result of the study the genetic material of ASF virus was detected in samples of three wild boars,” reported the department of Rosselhoznadzor.

Over the last six weeks, with the presence of ASF in Russia, the disease was detected in food products on the market as well in the wildlife. Due to the still active spread of the disease Rosselkhoznadzor appealed to the government of Tver region with the request of increasing the efforts to control the spread of ASF virus.